Mama Bear

SCHOOL, GLORIOUS SCHOOL!

Mama bear — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:23:23 GMT

Last Thursday I woke up at 5, too excited to sleep. It was our first day of school for the 08-09 school year, and I was ready to go! Er, get the kids ready, that is... yeah.

We had two schools to drop off to, thanks to our town's school system (concentrated grade levels at different campuses), but Matt came home to deliver our daughter to her school, and I took our son (and the two little girls I watch) to his school. When I got home, I called my best friend and left the following message:

"Hi, it's me. Just calling to let you hear this -- did you catch that? That's the sound of all the doors in the house unlocked, baby! The door to the backyard? Oh, yeah, it's unlocked, too. The bathrooms, laundry room, office? ALL OPEN. Oh, yeah! GOD I LOVE SCHOOL!!!!"

Her children don't go back for a few weeks, but then, she doesn't have my little plotter and destroyer, so she lets me have those tiny gloating moments when I can! (GRIN!)

After school I took the girls back to pick up Thomas, and I ran into a friend whose daughter was in Meg's 1st grade class. I realized this meant her younger daughter was now in kindergarten, so I congratulated her and asked how the first day went.

"Oh, I was so sad! It was so quiet, and no one needed me all day! I was really melancholy all day!"

I stared at her, then shook my head. "I'm sorry, I can't understand the words you just used. You do realize that tomorrow will be my first day alone with no kids, no demands, no appointments or errands or have-to-do lists. I plan to be naked all day, with the TV on totally inappropriate shows, JUST BECAUSE I CAN!"

I didn't actually do that, but the knowledge that I could was like a ray of sunshine all day! (The real day went like this: I went for a walk, then cleaned house for an hour -- while watching a DVD from Netflix I'd had for three weeks; it was a documentary called 51 Birch Street about a man's look at his parents' marriage -- and then wrote for almost four hours. Oh, and I took a brief catnap with the timer in one hand and the phone in another. I know, I do know how to live large, don't I?)

I'm focusing on fully enjoying the time I get to myself, these days, and the experiences the kids are having on their own at school, too. Each year brings something new and wonderful, and something to challenge... I wonder what this year will bring us? (Besides the hope for occasional naked TV fests, that is...)

Am I a Genius, or WHAT?!

Mama bear — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:47:30 GMT

I set a goal to walk 50 miles in August, based on my usual route of 3 miles. I figured I could walk four times a week and make it to 48 miles, easy, and one extra walk would boost me over the top.

I've also been drinking more water, because that's healthy and all.

Now, maybe you have noticed that the two things don't always work well together... walking and having to stop every half mile to have a potty break. Sigh. Well, I may have discovered an ingenious plan! I'm going to walk my usual distance, but instead of a there and back route, I'm going straight, and ending up at WalMart. I'll use the potty, and head back, giving myself TWO walks in one day! Hee, hee. AND, double bonus, I can't buy a bunch of junk because I still have nearly 3 miles to hike it back home, and I'm not hauling more than I have to! Looky there, I just exercised AND saved money!

As I sat here thinking how brilliant this plan was, I realized that I am either really old, really odd, or really both! LOL

I'll let you know how the walk works out...

Update: Yes, I walked the six miles, and it worked out perfectly! :)

Cute Sayings

Mama bear — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:58:20 GMT

One of the perks of kids is their malapropisms and words of wisdom... Here are some of my favorite recent quotes.

* Rosie, who turns 3 in 3 weeks, pronounces "flip flops" like "shla-shlas." It's adorable, and she gets a kick out of being asked to say it... until she's done. The other day we asked her to say flip flops, and she flopped backward on the couch and said woodenly, "No. Me dead."

*Another Rosie moment: She was bickering with everyone one morning, getting on everyone's nerves by intentionally sitting too close, taking favorite toys, standing in front of the TV, etc. I sighed and said, "Rosie, why is it that you are having so much trouble getting along today?" Rose sighed heavily and informed me, "Because. Me two." She even held up two fingers, to make sure I got it.

* Megan wanted to grate a carrot for a homemade butter making project, and she asked if she could use the "cheese flaker."

* Megan's psuedo-cousin Kate was telling Meg about someone at school that was annoying, and Kate's mom took exception to the word "annoying." (Apparently she has been overusing it, mostly to describe her younger sister.)

"Remember, that word is out of your vocabulary," Cari said.

Kate sighed, then turned to Megan and said, "Well, anyway, he was super -- you know -- and ..."

* Another Kate: She was supposed to take some ibuprofen for an injured ankle, so she very casually told Meg, "I have to go take some pain revealer."

BIRTHDAY TRIP (Part 1)

Mama bear — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:10:50 GMT

Megan and I had a fabulous time in LA last weekend, doing all things American Girl and birthday related. Uncle Dan was an amazing host, putting us up in his place and taking us everywhere we wanted to go for 48 hours... although it felt much shorter to us!

The flight from Sonoma County to LAX was perfect. Megan loved every bit of the process, from security to boarding to flight instructions. She was thrilled when the snack cart came by and offered our choice of beverages to go with the packet of crackers they handed out -- although she was expecting peanuts, the bruchetta toasts were EXCELLENT, she told me.

Uncle Dan whisked us away from the airport and we picked up his boyfriend, Randy, and headed to Dan's place for dinner with some good friends. Art and Gus and their two daughters live upstairs from Dan's studio apartment, so we had built-in playmates, even! Uncle Dan had arranged to have a surprise for Megan, too-- a princess cake and nine candles to blow out! (This would be cake #2 for #9, by the way!)

The next morning we went to breakfast and then hit the Grove mall, where the new American Girl movie was playing and the American Girl store was waiting...

Kit Kittredge was TERRIFIC, just adorable from start to finish. We got special T-shirts to commemorate the event, even. (Uncle Dan didn't want his, for some reason... and we gave mine to Hannah, Megan's cousin, as part of her early birthday present.)

The next step was to hit the American Girl Place, but first we needed to fuel Uncle Dan with some snackies and caffeine... Megan couldn't even eat, she was so excited and anxious to get inside the two-story red building, so we kept it very brief... and then we were off to Little Girl Heaven!!

(Stay tuned for Part 2)

Hey!

Mama bear — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:45:57 GMT

Today I asked the three girls (Megan, and the two sisters I watch three days a week, Grace and Rose) if they'd like something different for lunch.

"Sure!"

"How about a peanut butter sandwich made on waffles?"

"Yea!"

So I asked who wanted crunchy, and who wanted smooth peanut butter.

"Crunchy!" Megan sang out.

"Crunchy!" 5-year-old Grace immediately echoed.

"What?" said Rose, who is still 2.

They sat down to eat, and Grace took a bite. A strange look came over her face: part concern, part dismay, part befuddlement.

"Um, Juliana? What is crunchy in this?" she asked.

"That's the crunchy peanut butter," I told her. "Those are bits of peanuts."

She raised one eyebrow and gave a small nod. "Oh." She took another small bite, and chewed with concentration. "I never had crunchy peanut butter before."

I have a feeling Grace is going to think through the options next time I offer them, instead of just chiming in with whatever Megan says! :)

SUMMER!!

Mama bear — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:14:49 GMT

Matt and I very rarely argue, but we often disagree. The things we disagree about are relatively minor, too-- whether to floss first, or brush first; how hot the shower water should be; when the electric blanket should go on or come off the bed; and, of course, when the seasons change.

I know the calendar says that the first day of summer is June 21st, but if you divide the calendar into bulletin board months, summer is clearly June, July and August. Fall would then be September, October, and November, and winter would take place during December, January and February. Spring would blossom into being during March, April and May. Simple, right?

Today is the first weekday of summer vacation for our family. The calendar says June, and there are shorts being put on all across Sonoma County. We could wait for three weeks to officially label this season, or we could come to our senses and just call a duck a duck.

Quack!

Happy Summer!!

Don't forget the sunscreen and to drink lots of water!

Whirlwind Days

Mama bear — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:11:30 GMT

The last few days have been a whirlwind of performances. Friday was the Talent Show, Saturday was a choir performance, Monday was the school play, and Wednesday was a piano recital. Thank goodness we have a three day weekend coming up to recover!

No camping, no travel, no big plans... just relaxing and enjoying the day set aside to honor our servicemen and -women.

So far our weekend plans are pretty tame, compared to most Memorial Day celebrants. We're going to a Bar Mitvah on Saturday (one of the babies I nannied is all grown up now!), and then Saturday afternoon we've got the cousins coming over for dinner and a visit. We usually get together with our good friends on Memorial Day to do some R&D on Fourth of July drinks... so we'll probably set something up to do that important task. (They'll be red, white and blue, like our high-flying flag. If we discover something truly yummy, I'll try to post the recipe here!)

Stay safe-- be smart. Enjoy the weekend, but remember to pay attention to the reason we have the holiday set aside. And to all the brave men and women who have served our country -- and the families behind them --- thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

WHERE IS THE BALANCE?

Mama bear — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:34:05 GMT

Matt and I are blessed to have very bright, very sweet, very funny children... which feels very much like the ancient blessing of "may you live in interesting times."

Lately Megan is on a planning kick, which I enjoy. She draws up lists and plans and labels things so we know what is what: A is the computer, B is the Mythbusters site, C is the telephone, D is a smiling girl saying, "Well, Hi, Adam! Hi, Jamie!"

Yes, Megan is planning to meet the Mythbusters. Her plan includes contacting them (email was hard, but we may have found a street address...) and then to wait for them to call. She has pretty much decided to invite them to her birthday party, which will be a Mythbusters themed event this year, and so far her only dilemma is which one to hope comes....

Matt and I were talking the other night about how far we let her get carried away in this endeavor. Do we sit her down and give her the cold hard facts of life -- namely, that two adult men probably don't want to come to a 9 year old's party? Or do we let her dream and plan and hope?

How far is too high to reach? How big is too big to dream? And who are we to define her limits?

And yet, who better than us to lovingly give her boundaries, to give her a sense of reality, to give her some perameters to work within?

So, listen, Adam, Jamie? We'd love to have you come to Meg's party. There'll be homemade ballistics gel (peach jello) and some quicksand (cornstarch and water) and a decent amount of Diet Coke and Mentos to watch geyser up into the air. There'll be cake... And I bet she'll do her famous clicking for you, too.

(Oh, and for the record, the rest of the team is invited, too. We're fans of ALL the Mythbusters!)

BUNCO MANIA

Mama bear — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:05:21 GMT

Tomorrow night is my night to host bunco. The gals that I play with are fun, funny, and silly, so the bunco nights are a party in and of themselves, each month. It's wild, it's fun, it's moms gone wild!!

My theme is "Polka Dot Pajama Party." I've encouraged guests to show up in their jammies, and I'm decorating in polka dots. The theme sets the "surprise gift" for the gift exchange at the end of the bunco, so guests can bring something polka dotted or pajama-related. Even the food is themed... I've got M&Ms, Skittles, and malted milk balls (pajama party-ish, and polka-dotty if you think about it long enough, which, apparently, I have...) on the playing tables, and for dinner I'm serving pizzas and veggies and dip. (Once again, doesn't that evoke a pajama party? And one of the pizzas is going to be pepperoni, so that's more polka dots!) Dessert is a cake with M&Ms on top in a colorful polka-dotty confusion.

The beverages are not polka dotted, but they make you see dots. (LOL) I've got a recipe for "Kona Mai Tais," and I'm also mixing up a pitcher of "Safe Sex on the Beach," a non-alcoholic version of the popular "Sex on the Beach." (The trick is to substitute white cranberry peach juice for the peach schnapps and vodka, so it's just three juices. It's YUMMY!)

Today my challenge is to clean the house so that tomorrow I can just set everything out and be ready for my guests. That means the downstairs bathroom, mostly, because the living room and family room will continue to be thrashed up to and possibly including when the guests get here... Luckily they are moms, too, and will gladly overlook a foam puzzle of the United States on the floor, several books on the couch, and a random Duplo block here and there. :)

I can't guarantee pictures of the event, but you never know... after a few pitchers of drinkiepoos are downed, everyone's guard is lowered, too! (Stay tuned for the next installment of BUNCO MANIA!)

bellybutton piercing!

Mama bear — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:26:13 GMT

Wow, I just won a free bellybutton piercing, for the cost of the bellybutton ring! How cool is that? I'll have the cutest bellybutton in a solid black Miracle Slimmer swimsuit at the kiddie pool this summer!

I'm thinking something classy, like a diamond stud, or maybe a charm bellybutton ring that I can change to go with my outfits. What do you think?

The only question I have is how do you get the back of the bellybutton ring on? And what happens if it falls off? Where does it go? Will it set off metal detectors at the airport and jury duty if it's floating around in my intestines?

Bellybuttons and Such

Mama bear — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:47:40 GMT

The question of the day was one of those things that make you go, "Hmmm..." :)

I think the bellybutton is where God poked a finger in to see if Adam and Eve were "done" yet.... so yes, they had bellybuttons. (Innies, Cereals. LOL) But the little divot on your top lip has a reason for being there, too...

This story is from our family friend, Lani, who for years and years and years was our Grandma Bovee's best friend. (I have a picture of Lani, Grandma, and Grandma Jeane sitting on the couch with Megan as a newborn, and I've always thought of it as the "Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather" picture... She was like an "extra" grandma, two for the price of one!)

Lani was not a "religious" person, she was simply Lani. If you said, "Oh, God!" she'd quick clasp her hands in prayer and peek out from tightly clenched eyes to whisper, "Go ahead, He's listening!" She didn't Bible-thump, she walked the walk.

When Megan was itty bitty, Lani exclaimed over her cute little lips and showed me the little dip in the upper lip, saying it was from "where the angels put a finger there before you were born, and said, "Shhhh!" as a reminder not to talk about where you were in heaven before you came to earth."

See why we were allowed to have her in our lives? :)

Hair and There

Mama bear — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:32:27 GMT

I'm not the most trendy of women. That's okay with me; I don't think I could be trendy if I tried. (And frankly, I don't have the energy, interest, time, or money to be devoted to the Latest Whatever.)

When I go get a haircut, I either go to the Beauty College, or a quicky cut place for a trim. I love words, but I'm reduced to waving frantically in the air and using phrases like "crappy part here," and "so it goes swwoooop here," and "this thingy that goes zhwip here." The gals are patient with me, and they do what they can with me. ("No product, thanks. No, I don't want to look all that different than when I came in, just tidied up, thanks.")

When I came home from today's haircut Matt looked up and said, a touch reflexively, "Hair looks nice, babe." (I imagine he reminded himself a few times while I was gone to say something nice when I came home, no matter what. LOL) It does look nice. It's freshly washed, trimmed, dried smooth so that it curves under the way it's supposed to... and it looks a lot like what I wanted when I went in. (Win/win, in my book.)

While I was sitting in the chair, I got to look around at the other brave women in the room. I say brave, not because they are at a Beauty College for a haircut- these students are good, and very supervised-- but because they are willing to experiment with their look... I am in awe, really, at that willingness. There were several color jobs going on-- highlights, or whatever-- and some perms and such. The student gals working on their clients are beyond cute, and totally trendy/hip/with it. They are the type that can swish their hair up and twist it, clip it with a chip clip, and it looks DARLING. I am sooo not that girl, though.

The girl I am -- er, the mom that I am, really -- is pleased with the whole morning, though. I got a nice haircut, got some fun people watching in, and a couple of hours to myself. Not bad for a Saturday...

Nostalgia

Mama bear — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:48:11 GMT

The toys pictured above are vintage Little People toys, straight from my husband's childhood. His mom saved them and gave them to us years ago, and while they are technically "unsafe" by today's standards, they are still very fun! The best part has to be showing our peers and watching their faces light up: "Oh, man! I had that school! And that airplane! And no way, the A-frame house?! How cool is that?!"

The toys have been in a big box in the garage for a few years, but we needed the box to move the Solar System Project to school (long story, I'll tell you later, I promise) and the kids spotted the buildings on the shelf.

After a few hours of pleading, I gave in and brought them in. (I'd like to state for the record that I realized their bribery purposes, and got several positive results from the kids first, but yes, I caved. So sue me. See if I care. Megan's room is clean, and Thomas signed all his Valentines. Neener, neener.)

"Oh," Megan exclaimed as the toys came in, "I remember that one! Oh! And that one! That guy was my favorite!"

I'm puzzled how an eight year old could have nostalgia, but there you go....

My favorite pieces include the merry-go-round, or "launcher," as you probably recall utilizing it in your living room back in the day. Dukes of Hazzard was on TV, or Three's Company, or the Brady Bunch, and we'd load the little dog, and the frowny face boy, and the teacher with her blond bun, and the boy with the sidways cap, and spin the heck out of the merry-go-round. Wheeee! Off they'd fly! The other fave is the phone booth, which is sure to bring a look of puzzlement to today's kids. ("It's a phone? Where do you load the ringtones?")

Ah, sweet nostaglia! Enjoy!

He's getting better...

Mama bear — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:30:52 GMT

Thomas is feeling a bit better, but he's still home from school. The breathing treatments and Ritalin make him a little bit of a handful. (That is an understatement, but I can't for the life of me figure out a good comparison for you...wait, how about Jim Carrey on caffeine? )

We hung out this morning watching the Shrek holiday show (taped on TiVo last night) and I've gotten a few things done here and there... very small, insignificant, non-productive things. But that's okay. I'm sort of letting the mellow day roll on, and enjoying the recovery process.

I'm sure I'll very much enjoy the going-back-to-school process, too, hopefully soon. :)

Sick Kidlet

Mama bear — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:46:28 GMT

So, all weekend we're kind of enjoying Thomas more than usual. He's mellower, slower, less inclined to Super Mischief... a welcome break.

Then he starts asking for a blanket, and falling asleep on the couch or on the floor an hour earlier than usual. He's hot -- sure enough, he's got a fever -- 101.4.

Thomas has a high pain threshold, and he doesn't say anything when he has a sore throat or headache or joints aching... With no other outward symptoms to treat, I was just keeping an eye on his fever, and giving him Tylenol to bring it down to acceptable levels. I decided to be safe, rather than sorry, and take him in for a look. Monday morning we trekked in to see the doctor.

The doctor thought Thomas's throat was a little red, so it was probably a bit sore; but nothing else was infected, so we were just keeping him comfortable with Tylenol or Motrin.

Then in the middle of the night Thomas woke up, completely congested, and having a hard time breathing. He was hoarse and coughing a tight, barking cough that had to hurt his throat. He called out for me, and as I entered his room he asked, "Medicine?"

Thomas was asking for the Nebulizer treatments we give him when he gets these blitzkrieg colds, to ease his breathing. It seems that every cold he gets goes right to his chest, and he gets asthma. Poor little guy, the noise and mask and steaming mist is not comfortable, but the effects are worth it -- and he knows it.

So there we sat, at 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas over the buzz of the Nebulizer... ah, the memories.

This morning (well, later this morning, at 6) he woke up hoarse, and with a cough, but very cheerful. We did another breathing treatment, and he watched the Teletubbies through the roaring mist, very contentedly.

The fever seems to be gone, and he's back to his old energy levels.

I don't want him sick, ever, but it was sort of nice there for a couple of days...Sigh....